North Carolina’s premier hiking event, Stokes County’s own Reach the Peaks, is already set to exceed last year’s participation numbers when it kicks off Saturday morning.

“We started out with about 110 hikers the first year, then we had 404 last year and we are already past that with 450 advanced registrants this year, and we cut that off a month ago,” said Stokes County Arts Council Director Eddy McGee. The event is joint effort between the arts council, the Friends of the Sauratown Mountians (FSM) and Hanging Rock State Park. “The first two years we doubled the number of participants on the day of the event, so we are conservatively estimating that we will have about 700 people.”

The hiking event, which will take participants to five of Hanging Rock State Park’s main peaks over the course of an 11-mile hike draws participants from throughout the state and surrounding region.

“Over 90 percent of the people who have registered so far are from outside of the county,” said McGee. “Last year we had hikers from eight different states and it looks like it will be similar this year.”

FSM President Jay Young said he was pleased with the way the event had grown so quickly.

“We were ecstatic at the almost four-fold growth of the event in 2014 and are diligently planning for the growth in participation for this year’s event,” said Young. “We are especially pleased to showcase one of our two wonderful State Parks and the Sauratown Mountain range to those coming from other parts of North Carolina and from out of state. We wish for these participants to extend their visit overnight and take advantage of goods and services offered by some of our business members. Hopefully those folks will make return visits between now and next year’s event to discover all that the Sauratown Mountains have to offer.”

McGee said that philosophy toward developing tourism in the county through the event had proven true this year.

“We are finding that people who are registered for Reach the Peaks have actually been coming to Stokes County throughout the summer and training for the event,” said McGee. “It is not just a benefit for the county on the day of the event, it has now become a benefit throughout the year.

“People are coming here to train and they are staying here and eating here,” he added. “I had one lady come in last week who has already hiked the entire route six times this year in training for the event.”

McGee said many local lodging businesses had told them they were already booked with participants for this weekend.

While the main focus of Reach the Peaks is the hiking challenge, the event also draws a number of trail runners, with about 25 runners having registered for the grueling 11-mile course so far.

Runners are set to leave the starting line at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with hikers heading out between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

“We are going to encourage the hikers stagger when they leave,” said McGee. “That is a lot of people to put on the trails at one time.”

He added that day of registrants would be accepted, but asked that runners register by 7 a.m. and hikers register by 8:30 a.m. Day of Registration is $35 per person. Day of Registration will receive water/fruit, trail map, post-hike meal/beverage, and trail safety team sweeps. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a specially created embroidered patch, and join a select group of hikers who have completed this single day hiking challenge. Dog registration is $15 per dog, with each receiving a Reach the Peaks bandana (and patch should they complete the hike).

“If people are nervous about doing the whole thing, they can still come up and hike a little bit and enjoy the park,” said McGee. “They can help congratulate the hikers as they come in and then they can consider doing it next year.”

Arts are also a big part of the event.

“The Triad Outdoor Painters will be there Saturday,” said McGee. “They have actually started coming up during the week so they will have quite a few pieces finished to display during the event to promote the exhibit reception which will be on Oct. 11 in the Hanging Rock Visitor Center Gallery.”

McGee said this year the plein air painters would spaced out throughout the trail.

“They are going to make an effort to be at more of the peaks and do some pieces where some of the hiking participants are included,” he added.

This year, organizers are also planning more events at the starting/finish line.

“It will be more of a festival atmosphere this year with a lot of vendors in the parking lot,” said McGee. “We will have a DJ with music and we will have food for sale for non-participants.”

Non profit tents that will be present will be Stokes Arts, Friends of Sauratown Mountains and the Sauratown Trails Association. Business vendors will include By Foot Sports and Village Outdoors. There will be one lodging space and the tourism tent.

McGee said the event had also grown its sponsorship base this year. Each of the five peaks is being sponsored by a major contributor including Flow Subaru, VF Corporation, Hanes Brands, Employee Benefit Advisors, and Assurant Employee Benefits and each mile marker is being sponsored by local business, including Singletree Gun and Plough, The George Farmhouse, The Danbury General Store, Luna’s Trail Farm & Event Center, Froggy Waters Outdoors, Newberry Manor, The Beautiful Earth, Moore’s Springs Manor, Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tour, Carroll Signs & Advertising.

An after party is also planned at the Green Heron Ale House from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Proceeds raised form the event will be split between FSM and the arts council.

“The FSM half of proceeds realized from the event will be put to use based on the overall needs of the two parks, but a significant portion will be earmarked for the Vade Mecum repair and restoration fund,” said young. “We are committed to seeing this wonderful facility restored to its former glory and reopened to the public for park visitors and community use.”

McGee said the arts council would likely use the funds to help improve arts programs in local schools.

Nicholas Elmes may be reached at 336-591-8191 or on Twitter @NicholasElmes.

Advanced registration has ended. Day of registration will begin for the trail running portion at 7am on Sept 26 with the run starting at 8:30 am. Unlimited spaces remain for day of trail running registration.

Day of registration for the hiking portion begins at 8:30 am on Sept 26 with a staggered start from 9am to 10:30 am. 200 spaces remain for day of registration of hiking.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Hiking Challenge

Reach the Peaks is the premier single day hiking challenge in North Carolina. The event offers a strenuous 11 mile world class trail route that will test participants to summit the five major peaks of Hanging Rock State Park, including Moore’s Knob, Cook’s Wall, House Rock, Wolf Rock, and Hanging Rock. Advance Registration is $25 per person and ends on Friday, August 28th at 5 pm. Day of Registration is $35 per person. The Hiking Portion of the 2015 Reach the Peaks Challenge will be limited to the first 500 participants to sign up, whether Advance or Day of. Advance Registration will receive an event t-shirt, stainless steel water bottle, water, trail map, post-hike meal/beverage, and trail safety team sweeps. Day of Registration will receive water/fruit, trail map, post-hike meal/beverage, and trail safety team sweeps. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a specially created embroidered patch, and join a select group of hikers who have completed this single day hiking challenge. Dog registration is $15 per dog, with each receiving a Reach the Peaks bandana (and patch should they complete the hike). Only well-behaved dogs welcomed, with ALL dogs required to be on a leash throughout the entire event. Dog participants must bring documentation of most recent rabies vaccine and bordetella vaccine.

Trail Running Challenge

Reach the Peaks is the premier trail running peak challenge in North Carolina. The event offers a strenuous 11 mile world class trail route that will test participants to summit the five major peaks of Hanging Rock State Park, including Moore’s Knob, Cook’s Wall, House Rock, Wolf Rock, and Hanging Rock. THIS EVENT IS NOT A RACE. A Timer will be located at the START/FINISH line, but all trail running participants are responsible to record their own time. Advance Registration is $25 per person and ends on Friday, August 28 at 5 pm. Day of Registration on September 26th is $35 per person. Advance Registration will receive an event t-shirt, stainless steel water bottle, water/fruit, trail map, post-hike meal/beverage, and trail safety team sweeps. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a specially created embroidered patch, and join a select group of trail runners who have completed this challenge. NO DOGS will be allowed on the Trail Running portion of the Reach the Peaks Challenge.

Reach The Peaks is a Hike at your own pace Challenge to Conquer 11 Miles of Trails and 5 Peaks. Some like to keep up with their personal bests and know how they do from year to year. Listed here are the Top 40 fastest to complete the challenge before Noon. (Times recorded at Check In and Finish of Challenge, start times may vary) Join us again September 26, 2015 to better your personal best and challenge your friend & family to join you at#reachthepeaks

Host your large scale event or Prom Night with us at The Arts Place! Stokes County Schools Early College are in the House tonight and everyone looks fine for Prom19. They really have dressed the building up in a night at the movies theme! https://t.co/HLKKPd1sbF

For those of you who remember this song, singer / songwriter Leigh Nash will be performing at The Arts Place of Stokes TONIGHT at 7pm. Visit https://t.co/qjhMQxWdRX or contact Stokes Arts at 336 593-8159 for tickets or additional information. https://t.co/OI9M7bRcMp

2014 Images

About Reach

Reach the Peaks is the premier single day hiking challenge in North Carolina held at the end of September. The event is a strenuous 11 mile hike that will test participants to summit the five major peaks of Hanging Rock State Park, including Moore’s Knob, Cook’s Wall, House Rock, Wolf Rock, and Hanging Rock. Participants will receive an event t-shirt, trail map, unique event patch, post-hike meal, trail comfort/hospitality, entertainment, and trail safety team sweeps. Organized by the Stokes County Arts Council.